B Mirror Desk : The central bank has sent AFM Shahinul Islam, head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), a financial intelligence agency under the control of Bangladesh Bank, on compulsory leave after several objectionable videos went viral on social media.

Confirming this information on Tuesday, Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur said, “The BFIU chief will be on leave until the investigation is completed. Further action will be taken after receiving the investigation report.”

Earlier, a section of central bank officials submitted a memorandum to the governor requesting that he be immediately sent on compulsory leave.

After Shahinul Islam’s video was circulated on WhatsApp and Messenger of various people from August 14, it went viral on social media from August 18. After that, when severe criticism began in various quarters, including Bangladesh Bank, the Central Bank’s Information Technology Department was given the responsibility of verifying the authenticity of the video.

Meanwhile, Shahinul claimed that the objectionable video circulating on social media was fake, but the central bank found the video to be accurate after initially checking the facts. In addition, he has allowed the withdrawal of Tk 190 million from the bank account of Khandaker Enayet Ullah, the owner of controversial transport businessman Ena Paribahan, after freezing that account. It is also reported that an investigation will be conducted to determine whether anything immoral has occurred in this case.

It is learnt that in November last year, the BFIU froze Tk 120 crore in 50 accounts belonging to the interests of Ena Paribahan owner Khandaker Enayet Ullah and his family. However, in April this year, four accounts of Bank Al-Falah were allowed to withdraw about Tk 190 crore without re-freezing. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating allegations that Khandaker Enayet Ullah, the former general secretary of the Road Transport Owners Association, collected Tk 1.65 crore as daily donations from buses plying on various routes.

On the application of the ACC, the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court ordered the freezing of Tk 120 crore on May 27. However, the ACC has now learned that there is actually Tk 101 crore in these accounts. The remaining money was given the opportunity to withdraw in exchange for immoral benefits. In addition, there are allegations that many others who earned income through irregularities and corruption during the previous government were given the opportunity to withdraw money. Bangladesh Bank has formed a high-level committee to investigate these issues, but has not disclosed their names.

The then head of the BFIU, Md. Masud Biswas, was forced to resign on August 8 last year in the face of protests after the fall of the Awami League government. Shahinul Islam was appointed in January this year after a long vacancy.